III-nitride transistor including a p-type depleting layer

ABSTRACT

A transistor includes a III-N layer structure comprising a III-N channel layer between a III-N barrier layer and a p-type III-N layer. The transistor further includes a source, a drain, and a gate between the source and the drain, the gate being over the III-N layer structure. The p-type III-N layer includes a first portion that is at least partially in a device access region between the gate and the drain, and the first portion of the p-type III-N layer is electrically connected to the source and electrically isolated from the drain. When the transistor is biased in the off state, the p-type layer can cause channel charge in the device access region to deplete as the drain voltage increases, thereby leading to higher breakdown voltages.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/856,573, filed on Jul. 19, 2013. The disclosure of the prior application is considered part of and is incorporated by reference in the disclosure of this application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to semiconductor devices, in particular III-Nitride transistors.

BACKGROUND

Currently, typical power semiconductor transistors, including devices such as power MOSFETs and insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), are fabricated with silicon (Si) semiconductor material. More recently, silicon carbide (SiC) power devices have been considered due to their superior properties. III-Nitride or III-N semiconductor devices, such as gallium nitride (GaN) devices, are now emerging as attractive candidates to carry large currents, support high voltages and to provide very low on-resistance and fast switching times. Although high voltage III-N diodes and transistors are beginning to be commercialized, further improvements are needed in order to improve the efficiency and output characteristics of the devices.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect, a transistor is described. The transistor includes a III-N layer structure comprising a III-N channel layer between a III-N barrier layer and a p-type III-layer. The transistor further includes a source, a drain, and a gate between the source and the drain, the gate being over the III-N layer structure. The p-type III-N layer includes a first portion that is at least partially in a device access region between the gate and the drain, and the first portion of the p-type III-N layer is electrically connected to the source and electrically isolated from the drain.

In a second aspect, a transistor is described. The transistor includes a III-N layer structure comprising a III-N channel layer between a III-N barrier layer and a p-type III-N layer. The transistor further includes a source, a drain, and a gate between the source and the drain, the gate being over the III-N layer structure. The transistor also includes a channel in the III-N channel layer, the channel extending from the source to the drain when the gate is biased relative to the source at a voltage which is higher than a threshold voltage of the transistor. The p-type III-N layer is electrically connected to the source and electrically isolated from the drain.

In a third aspect, a transistor is described. The transistor includes a III-N layer structure comprising a III-N channel layer and a III-N barrier layer, a 2DEG channel in the III-N channel layer, a source and a drain, and a gate between the source and the drain, the gate being over the III-N layer structure. The transistor further includes a p-type III-N layer which is at least partially in an access region between the gate and the drain. A p-type doping level in the p-type III-N layer is selected such that mobile charge in the 2DEG channel in the access region between the gate and the drain is depleted while the gate is biased relative to the source at a voltage lower than a transistor threshold voltage and the drain is biased above a minimum voltage relative to the source, but not depleted while the gate is biased relative to the source at a voltage lower than the transistor threshold voltage and the drain is biased below the minimum voltage relative to the source.

Transistors described herein may each include one or more of the following. The transistor can further include a 2DEG channel in the III-N channel layer. A compositional difference between the III-N barrier layer and the III-N channel layer can cause the 2DEG channel to be induced in the III-N channel layer. The transistor can have a threshold voltage, wherein the transistor is configured such that when the gate is biased relative to the source at a voltage greater than the threshold voltage, the 2DEG channel extends continuously from the source to the drain, and when the gate is biased relative to the source at a voltage less than the threshold voltage and the drain is biased relative to the source at a positive voltage that is less than a minimum voltage, the 2DEG is depleted of mobile charge in a gate region of the transistor. The transistor can be configured such that when the gate is biased relative to the source at a voltage less than the threshold voltage and the drain is biased relative to the source at a positive voltage that is greater than the minimum voltage, the 2DEG is depleted of mobile charge in the device access region between the gate and the drain. The minimum voltage can be 20V or larger. The minimum voltage can be in a range of 20V to 100V.

The transistor can have a threshold voltage, wherein a p-type doping level in the p-type III-N layer is selected such that mobile charge in the 2DEG channel in the access region between the gate and the drain is depleted while the gate is biased relative to the source at a voltage lower than the threshold voltage and the drain is biased above a minimum voltage relative to the source, but not depleted while the gate is biased relative to the source at a voltage higher than the threshold voltage. The transistor can have a threshold voltage, wherein a p-type doping level in the p-type III-N layer is selected such that mobile charge in the 2DEG channel in the access region between the gate and the drain is depleted while the gate is biased relative to the source at a voltage lower than the threshold voltage and the drain is biased above a minimum voltage relative to the source, but not depleted while the gate is biased relative to the source at a voltage lower than the threshold voltage and the drain is biased below the minimum voltage relative to the source. The minimum voltage can be in a range of 20V to 100V. An areal mobile charge density or a p-type doping density in the p-type III-N layer can be in the range of 50-75% of an areal sheet charge density of mobile charge in the 2DEG channel.

The transistor can further include a recess extending through the p-type III-N layer, wherein the gate is in the recess. The III-N layer structure can be oriented in an N-polar direction, and the gate can be over an N-face of the III-N layer structure. The p-type III-N layer can include a superlattice comprising alternating III-N layers of varying bandgap and/or composition. The channel can be between the p-type III-N layer and the gate. A portion of the III-N channel layer can be below the drain and between the drain and the p-type III-N layer. The p-type III-N layer can be electrically connected to the source.

The details of one or more embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an N-polar III-Nitride transistor.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a block diagram showing the formation of an N-polar III-Nitride transistor.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of III-polar III-Nitride transistors.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein are lateral III-Nitride transistors that include a p-type III-Nitride layer as a channel depleting layer. Specifically, the p-type layer causes channel charge in an access region of the transistor to be depleted while the transistor is biased OFF (i.e., while the gate of the transistor is biased relative to the source at a voltage lower than the transistor threshold voltage), but not to be depleted while the transistor is biased ON (i.e., while the gate of the transistor is biased relative to the source at a voltage higher than the transistor threshold voltage). Such a structure allows for a compact transistor with a very high breakdown voltage while maintaining a low on-resistance.

As used herein, the terms III-Nitride or III-N materials, layers, devices, etc., refer to a material or device comprised of a compound semiconductor material according to the stoichiometric formula B_(w)Al_(x)In_(y)Ga_(z)N, where w+x+y+z is about 1, 0≦w≦1, 0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1, and 0≦z≦1. In a III-Nitride or III-N device, such as a transistor or HEMT, the conductive channel can be partially or entirely contained within a III-N material layer.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the transistor device of FIG. 1 includes a first III-N layer 101, for example GaN, grown on a suitable substrate 100, which can for example be silicon, silicon carbide, sapphire, AlN, or GaN. The device further includes a III-N barrier layer 108, for example Al_(x)Ga_(1-x)N, on the first III-N layer 101. The bandgap of the III-N barrier layer 108 is typically greater than that of the first III-N layer 101. On top of the III-N barrier layer is formed a III-N channel layer 106, which can for example be unintentionally doped (UID) n-type GaN. The III-N channel layer 106 has a different composition than the III-N barrier layer 108, the bandgap of the III-N barrier layer 108 is greater than that of the III-N channel layer 106, and the thicknesses of layers 108 and 106 are selected such that a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) channel 116 (indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 1) is induced in the III-N channel layer 106 adjacent the interface between layers 106 and 108. Additionally, the portion of the first III-N layer 101 which is adjacent to barrier layer 108 can be doped with n-type dopants to increase the mobile charge density in the 2DEG channel 116. A p-type III-N layer 104 is formed over the channel layer 106. The p-type III-N layer 104 is at least between the gate 114 and the drain 112, and may optionally also be between the source 110 and gate 114, as shown in FIG. 1. The p-type III-N layer 104 can be a single III-N layer, such as GaN, or may optionally have a varying composition of group-III elements. For example, the p-type III-N layer can be a superlattice formed of alternating layers of GaN and AlGaN. Additionally, while in some cases the entire layer 104 is doped p-type, in other cases only a portion of the layer is doped p-type. For example, the layer 104 can include a series of p-doped portions each separated by undoped portions.

III-N layers 101, 108, 106, and 104 are N-polar III-N layers, oriented as shown in the [ 0 0 0 −1 ] direction. A gate 114 is formed in a recess that extends at least partially through p-type III-N layer 104, and optionally extends partially through the III-N channel layer 106, as shown in FIG. 1. An insulating layer 128 is optionally included between gate 114 and the underlying III-N layers. As seen in FIG. 1, the source and drain contacts 110 and 112, as well as the gate 114, are all formed over the N-face (e.g., [ 0 0 0 −1 ] face) of the III-N material layers, which is on an opposite side of the III-N material layers from the substrate 100. Source and drain contacts 110 and 112, respectively, are on opposite sides of the gate 114 and contact the device 2DEG channel 116 that is formed in layer 106. The portions of the III-N materials directly below the lowermost portion of the gate 114 are referred to as the gate region of the device. The portions of the III-N materials directly below the source and drain 110 and 112 are respectively referred to as the source and drain regions of the device. The portions of III-N material between the gate region and the source region, and between the gate region and the drain region, are referred to as the device access regions.

The p-type doping level in the p-type layer 104 is selected such that channel charge in the drain side access region (i.e., the access region between the gate and the drain) of the transistor is depleted while the transistor is biased OFF (i.e., while the gate of the transistor is biased relative to the source at a voltage lower than the transistor threshold voltage), but not depleted (i.e., is substantially electrically conductive) while the transistor is biased ON (i.e., while the gate of the transistor is biased relative to the source at a voltage higher than the transistor threshold voltage). For example, the areal mobile charge density or the p-type doping density in the p-type layer can be in the range of 50-75% of the areal sheet charge density of the electrons in the 2DEG channel 116.

As seen in FIG. 1, the recess beneath the gate can be formed to a sufficient depth to ensure that the device is an enhancement-mode device, such that the device has a threshold voltage greater than 0V. That is, when 0V is applied to the gate 114 relative to the source 110 and a positive voltage is applied to the drain 112 relative to the source 110, channel charge in the gate region is depleted, and the device is in a non-conductive state. When a sufficiently positive voltage is applied to the gate 114 relative to the source 110, the 2DEG charge in the gate region is induced, and the device becomes conductive.

Alternatively, the device in FIG. 1 can be modified to be a depletion-mode device. If the depth of the recess below the gate is decreased, then the transistor can be a depletion-mode device, where the device is ON when 0V is applied to the gate relative to the source, and a sufficiently negative voltage must be applied to the gate relative to the source to turn the device OFF. For example, the device may be a depletion-mode device if the gate recess is not included, if the recess only extends partially through the p-type layer 104, if the recess extends through the entire p-type layer 104 but does not extend into the channel layer 106, or if the recess only extends a very short distance into the channel layer 106.

As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the source 110 is electrically connected to the p-type layer 104. For example, the device can include a field plate 122 which directly contacts the p-type layer 104 and is electrically connected to the source 110. As also seen in FIG. 1, the drain 112 is electrically isolated from (i.e., is not electrically connected to) the p-type III-N layer 104. As used herein, two or more contacts or other items such as conductive layers or components are said to be “electrically connected” if they are connected by a material which is sufficiently conducting to ensure that the electric potential at each of the contacts or other items is intended to be the same, i.e., is about the same, at all times under any bias conditions. An encapsulation layer, such as dielectric layer 124, may also be formed over the entire structure.

The device of FIG. 1 operates as follows. When the gate 114 is biased relative to the source 110 at a voltage that is greater than the threshold voltage of the device, there is 2DEG charge below the gate 114 in the gate region, and therefore a continuous 2DEG from the source 110 to the drain 112. When a positive voltage is applied to the drain 112, electrons flow from the source 110, through the continuous 2DEG channel 116, and into the drain 112. A conventional current flows from the drain to the source, and the device is considered to be ON.

When the gate 114 is biased relative to the source 110 at a voltage that is lower than the threshold voltage of the device, there is no 2DEG in the gate region below the gate 114, and therefore the 2DEG is discontinuous between the source 110 and the drain 112. When a small positive voltage is applied to the drain 112, the portion of the 2DEG in the access region between the gate 114 and the drain 112 attains the same potential (i.e., the same voltage) as the drain 112. The p-type layer 104 and the source connected field plate 122 remain at substantially the same potential as the source 110. As the voltage on the drain is progressively increased, a positive electric field is created from the portion of the 2DEG in the drain-side access region that is directly beneath the p-type layer up to the p-type layer 104. This causes electrons from the portion of the 2DEG in the drain-side access region to deplete out, and the p-region in p-type layer 104 is also progressively depleted of holes. The doping levels, layer thicknesses, and 2DEG sheet charge density are chosen such that, at all voltages greater than a minimum drain voltage, where the minimum drain voltage can for example be between 20V and 100V, almost all or substantially all mobile carriers in the 2DEG in the drain-side access region and in the p-type layer 104 deplete out. Any subsequent increase in drain voltage causes charge imaging from regions in or near the drain 112 to the field plate 122. Because the p-type layer 104 is fully depleted, it no longer remains at ground potential and floats up in voltage. There is therefore a smooth change of potential from the drain 112 to the field plate 122, and no field peaking occurs at the edge of the field plate, as in conventional planar HEMTs. This results in a larger, more uniform field before breakdown occurs, and hence a larger breakdown voltage.

The device of FIG. 1 can be formed according to the process 200 illustrated in the block diagram of FIGS. 2A and 2B. First, III-N layers 101, 108, 106, and 104 are formed on substrate 100 by a suitable epitaxial growth technique, for example metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), or hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) (step 201). Next, the p-type III-N layer 104 is etched away in the region in which the drain 112 is to be deposited, and optionally also in the region in which the source 110 is to be deposited (step 202). The portion of the p-type III-N layer 104 that is in the drain-side access region and is directly adjacent to the region where the drain 112 is deposited may also be removed (step 203), in order to ensure that the drain 112 does not directly contact the p-type III-N layer 104. Then, metallic source and drain contacts 110 and 112, respectively, are formed (step 204). Next, a recess is formed in the III-N material layer structure (step 205). The recess extends at least partially through the p-type III-N layer 104, and typically extends through the entire p-type III-N layer 104 and partially through the channel layer 106. The recess may optionally extend through the entire thickness of the channel layer 106 (step 206, not shown in FIG. 1). Next, the gate 114 is formed in the recess (step 208). Optionally, prior to forming the gate 114, a gate insulating layer 128 can be formed in the recess (step 207), and the gate 114 can be formed on the insulating layer (step 208). Next, field plate 122, which contacts both the source 110 and the p-type III-N layer 104, is formed (step 210). Optionally, prior to forming the field plate 122, a dielectric layer 126 can be formed over at least a portion of the gate 114 (step 209), and the metal which forms the field plate 122 can be at least partially deposited on the dielectric layer 126 (step 210). Finally, a dielectric encapsulation layer 124 can be formed over the entire structure (step 211).

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate transistors which operate similarly to that of FIG. 1, except that the III-N layers 302, 304, 306, and 308 are formed in a III-polar or [ 0 0 0 1 ] orientation. FIG. 3 illustrates a depletion-mode transistor, while FIG. 4 illustrates an enhancement-mode transistor. The devices of FIGS. 3 and 4 include a substrate 300, a III-N buffer layer 302, a p-type III-N layer 304, a III-N channel layer 306, and a III-N barrier layer 308, where the composition and thickness of the barrier layer 308 are selected such that a 2DEG channel 316 is induced in the channel layer 306. As in the device of FIG. 1, the source 310 electrically contacts (i.e., is electrically connected to) the p-type layer 304, while the drain 312 is electrically isolated from the p-type layer 304. That is, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the p-type III-N layer 304 is below the III-N channel layer 306, and the source 310 extends through an entire thickness of the III-N channel layer 306 to contact the p-type III-N layer 304, while the drain 312 does not extend through the entire thickness of the III-N channel layer 306, so that a portion of the III-N channel layer 306 is below the drain 312 and is between the drain 312 and the p-type III-N layer 304. Also as in FIG. 1, the p-doping level and thickness of the p-type layer is selected such that the 2DEG channel 316 in the device access regions is substantially populated with mobile charge while the device is biased in the ON state, but becomes depleted of charge when the device is biased in the OFF state, and a voltage greater than a minimum voltage level is applied to the drain, such that when the device is in the OFF state and blocks a sufficiently large voltage, the 2DEG in at least a portion of the device access regions is substantially depleted of mobile charge. For example, as with the device in FIG. 1, the areal mobile charge density or the p-type doping density in the p-type layer 304 can be in the range of 50-75% of the areal sheet charge density of the electrons in the 2DEG channel 316.

The devices of FIGS. 3 and 4 operate as follows. When the gate 314 is biased relative to the source 310 at a voltage that is greater than the threshold voltage of the device, there is 2DEG charge below the gate 314 in the gate region, and therefore a continuous 2DEG from the source 310 to the drain 312. When a positive voltage is applied to the drain 312, electrons flow from the source 310, through the continuous 2DEG channel 316, and into the drain 312. A conventional current flows from the drain 312 to the source 310, and the device is considered to be ON.

When the gate 314 is biased relative to the source 310 at a voltage that is lower than the threshold voltage of the device, there is no 2DEG in the gate region below the gate 314, and therefore the 2DEG is discontinuous between the source 310 and the drain 312. When a small positive voltage is applied to the drain 312 relative to the source, the portion of the 2DEG in the access region between the gate 314 and the drain 312 attains the same potential (i.e., the same voltage) as the drain 312. The p-type layer 304 remains at substantially the same potential as the source 310, since the source 310 and the p-type layer 304 are electrically connected as shown. As the voltage on the drain 312 is progressively increased, a positive electric field is created from the portion of the 2DEG in the drain-side access region down to the underlying portion of the p-type layer 304 in the drain-side access region. This causes electrons from the portion of the 2DEG in the drain-side access region to deplete out, and the p-region in the portion of the p-type layer 304 in the drain-side access region is also progressively depleted of holes. Because the portion of the 2DEG 316 that is in the source-side access region remains at approximately the same voltage as the source, it does not become depleted of mobile carriers as the drain voltage increases when the device is biased in the off state. Similarly, the portion of the p-type layer 304 in the source-side access region does not become depleted of holes as the drain voltage increases when the device is biased in the off state. Thus, even though the p-type III-N layer 304 extends from the source region all the way to the drain region of the device, it only serves to deplete mobile charges from the 2DEG in the drain-side access region (and not the source-side access region) as the drain voltage increases when the device is biased in the off state.

The doping levels, layer thicknesses, and 2DEG sheet charge density are chosen such that, at all voltages greater than a minimum drain voltage, where the minimum drain voltage can for example be between 20V and 100V, almost all or substantially all mobile carriers in the 2DEG in the drain-side access region and in the p-type layer 304 deplete out. This results in a larger, more uniform field before breakdown occurs, and hence a larger breakdown voltage.

A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the techniques and devices described herein. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A transistor, comprising: a III-N layer structure comprising a III-N channel layer between a III-N barrier layer and a p-type III-N layer, wherein the III-N channel layer includes a 2DEG channel formed adjacent an interface between the III-N channel layer and the III-N barrier layer; a source and a drain, each of which being directly connected to the III-N channel layer; a gate between the source and the drain, the gate being over the III-N layer structure, wherein the p-type III-N layer includes a first portion that is disposed in a device access region between the gate and the drain; and a field plate electrically connected to the source and to the first portion of the p-type III-N layer, wherein the first portion of the p-type III-N layer is electrically isolated from the drain.
 2. The transistor of claim 1, wherein a dopant concentration in the p-type III-N layer is such that an areal mobile charge density or a p-type doping density in the p-type III-N layer is in the range of 50-75% of an areal sheet charge density of mobile charge in the 2DEG channel.
 3. The transistor of claim 2, having a threshold voltage, wherein mobile charge in the 2DEG channel in the access region between the gate and the drain is depleted while the gate is biased relative to the source at a voltage lower than the threshold voltage and the drain is biased above a minimum voltage relative to the source, but not depleted while the gate is biased relative to the source at a voltage lower than the threshold voltage and the drain is biased below the minimum voltage relative to the source, and the minimum voltage is in a range of 20V to 100V.
 4. The transistor of claim 1, wherein the p-type III-N layer further comprises a second portion disposed in a device access region between the source and the gate, the transistor further comprises a recess extending through, and separating the first and second portions of, the p-type III-N layer, and the gate is in the recess.
 5. The transistor of claim 1, wherein the III-N layer structure is oriented in an N-polar direction, and the gate is over an N-face of the III-N layer structure.
 6. The transistor of claim 1, wherein the p-type III-N layer includes a superlattice comprising alternating p-doped III-N layers and un-doped III-N layers.
 7. A transistor, comprising: a III-N channel layer; a III-N barrier layer, wherein the III-N channel layer includes a 2DEG channel adjacent an interface between the III-N channel layer and the III-N barrier layer; a source and a drain, each of which being directly connected to the III-N channel layer; a gate between the source and the drain, the gate being over the 2DEG channel; a p-type III-N layer disposed in a device access region between the gate and the drain; and a field plate that is electrically connected to the source and to the p-type III-N layer, and is electrically isolated from the gate, wherein the p-type III-N layer is electrically isolated from the drain, and wherein a dopant concentration in the p-type III-N layer is such that an areal mobile charge density or a p-type doping density in the p-type III-N layer is in the range of 50-75% of an areal sheet charge density of mobile charge in the 2DEG channel.
 8. The transistor of claim 7, wherein the p-type III-N layer has a portion disposed in a device access region between the source and the gate, and the transistor further comprises a recess extending through the p-type III-N layer, such that the gate is in the recess.
 9. The transistor of claim 7, wherein a III-N layer structure including the III-N channel layer, the III-N barrier layer and the p-type III-N layer is oriented in an N-polar direction, and the gate is over an N-face of the III-N layer structure.
 10. The transistor of claim 7, wherein the p-type III-N layer includes a superlattice comprising alternating p-doped III-N layers and un-doped III-N layers. 